Matthew L. "Matt" Hudgens

HARDWICK: Matthew Lee "Matt" Hudgens, 53, of Hardwick died peacefully on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at UVM Medical Center in Burlington.

He was born April 20, 1970, in Waynesville, Missouri; the son of Ivan and Nancy (Houston) Hudgens.

He graduated from Laquey High School in Laquey, Missouri in the class of 1988.

Following his education, he entered the US Navy on July 19, 1988. He proudly served his country on the USS Kitty Hawk CV 63 in San Diego, CA and was honorably discharged on June 11, 1992.

On May 17, 2017, he married Vicki L. Thompson in Morrisville. They lived all their married life in Hardwick.

He was employed in Oregon, for a lumber company as a forklift operator. He later worked for a paper company, where he was a press operator. He then moved to Vermont, where he worked for more than 15 years at Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury and recently, he was employed by the Butternut Company in Morrisville as a forklift operator.

Matt was a member of the American Legion Post # 7 in Hardwick. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and cooking on his grill. He loved spending time with his step-grandchildren and will be remembered by all the neighbors as having a fabulous vegetable garden and strawberry patch.

Survivors include: his wife, Vicki; his parents, Nancy L. Hudgens of Hardwick and Ivan Hudgens of Laquey, Mo.; stepchildren: William Bisson and his wife, Julie of Craftsbury, and Tricia Bisson and her fiancé, John Ritchie of Milton; two brothers, Mark Hudgens and his companion, Sissy of Portland, Oregon, and John Hudgens and his fiancée, Crystal Fletcher of Wolcott; step grandchildren, Madelyn, and Elaina Bisson and Alyia Young, all of Craftsbury and a new step grand-daughter, Aurora soon to be born as well  many other members of this very large family.

A Celebration of Life to honor, Matt, will be held from 2-5 PM, on Friday, October 27, 2023, at the American Legion Post # 7 in Hardwick. Please bring a story or a memory to share at a 3 PM gathering.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Hardwick Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 837, Hardwick, VT. 05843.

Northern Vermont Funeral Service, 60 Elm Street, Hardwick is assisting family with arrangements. Online condolences are welcomed at: northernvermontfuneralservice.com